Psalms 64:1-4 "... Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy. Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity: Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words; That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not."
2 Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
In the aftermath of the terrorist attack on America, we have seen our country gripped with crippling fear. That fear has severely affected our economy. It is causing numerous layoffs in many different industries and forced some companies to close their doors. People are fearful of traveling especially by air. They are fearful of neighbors who might look different. They are fearful of the possibility of biological and nuclear attacks. There is considerable anxiety that we might be on the brink of World War III. Never before did the words of Henri Nowen ring truer than today when he wrote that we who live in this century are a fearful people. Fear is a devastating controller. When one is governed by fear, they are no longer guided by faith. Proverbs 29:25 declares, "The fear of man brings a snare..."
I. The Causes of Fear
A. Fear always has a definite object. Every fear object is something we perceive as both present and powerful, something over which we have no control. This is where fear differs from worry. People worry about something uncertain or unknown. Worry will often give way to fear.
B. Fear is most often the result of threats whether real or perceived.
1. I Samuel 21:10-12 "And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. [11] And the servants of Achish said unto him, is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands? [12] And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath."
2. Threatened Danger - Crime, war, violent weather, sudden illness all can cause apprehension because of the uncertainty and the feeling of helplessness surround them.
3. Threatened Values - We become anxious when freedom and other things we value are in danger of being undermined or taken away. One result of terrorism is clearly seen in the statement that "America has been changed forever."
4. Threat of Conflict- Conflict causes anxiety because we perceive the adversity or adversary as being powerful casting doubt on the outcome of the struggle.
5. Irrational and Perceived Threats - According to one study, fear often arises because people have irrational beliefs.
a) "Everything is going to get worse.... Nothing can be done... etc."
b) WHEN YOU FEAR THAT THE WORST WILL HAPPEN, YOUR OWN THOUGHTS MAY HELP TO BRING IT ABOUT. SOMEONE ONCE WROTE, "FEAR IS THE WRONG USE OF IMAGINATION. IT IS ANTICIPATING THE WORST, NOT THE BEST THAT CAN HAPPEN." A SALESMAN, DRIVING ON A LONELY COUNTRY ROAD ONE DARK AND RAINY NIGHT, HAD A FLAT. HE OPENED THE TRUNK--NO LUG WRENCH. THE LIGHT FROM A FARMHOUSE COULD BE SEEN DIMLY UP THE ROAD. HE SET OUT ON FOOT THROUGH THE DRIVING RAIN. SURELY, THE FARMER WOULD HAVE A LUG WRENCH HE COULD BORROW, HE THOUGHT. OF COURSE, IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT--THE FARMER WOULD BE ASLEEP IN HIS WARM, DRY BED. MAYBE HE WOULDN’T ANSWER THE DOOR. AND EVEN IF HE DID, HE’D BE ANGRY AT BEING AWAKENED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. THE SALESMAN, PICKING HIS WAY BLINDLY IN THE DARK, STUMBLED ON. BY NOW HIS SHOES AND CLOTHING WERE SOAKED. EVEN IF THE FARMER DID ANSWER HIS KNOCK, HE WOULD PROBABLY SHOUT SOMETHING LIKE, "WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA WAKING ME UP AT THIS HOUR?" THIS THOUGHT MADE THE SALESMAN ANGRY. WHAT RIGHT DID THAT FARMER HAVE TO REFUSE HIM THE LOAN OF A LUG WRENCH? AFTER ALL, HERE HE WAS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, SOAKED TO THE SKIN. THE FARMER WAS A SELFISH CLOD--NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT! THE SALESMAN FINALLY REACHED THE HOUSE AND BANGED LOUDLY ON THE DOOR. A LIGHT WENT ON INSIDE, AND A WINDOW OPENED ABOVE. A VOICE CALLED OUT, "WHO IS IT?" HIS FACE WHITE WITH ANGER, THE SALESMAN CALLED OUT, "YOU KNOW FULL WELL WHO IT IS. IT’S ME! AND YOU CAN KEEP YOUR BLASTED LUG WRENCH. I WOULDN’T BORROW IT NOW IF YOU HAD THE LAST ONE ON EARTH!" - COPIED
6. MAX L. LUCADO WROTE CONCERNING FEAR: "HIS MODUS OPERANDI IS TO MANIPULATE YOU WITH THE MYSTERIOUS, TO TAUNT YOU WITH THE UNKNOWN. FEAR OF DEATH, FEAR OF FAILURE, FEAR OF GOD, FEAR OF TOMORROW-HIS ARSENAL IS VAST. HIS GOAL? TO CREATE COWARDLY, JOYLESS SOULS. HE DOESN’T WANT YOU TO MAKE THE JOURNEY TO THE MOUNTAIN. HE FIGURES IF HE CAN RATTLE YOU ENOUGH, YOU WILL TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE PEAKS AND SETTLE FOR A DULL EXISTENCE IN THE FLATLANDS." Edythe Draper, Draper’s Book of Quotations for the Christian World (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1992). Entry 3971.
II. The Cure for Fear
A. Trust in God - walk in daily contact with Him
1. John Witherspoon wrote, "It is only the fear of God that can deliver us from the fear of man."
2. The Philippians humanly speaking had every reason to be anxious.
a) They were suffering severe persecution - Philippians 1:28-29
b) There was disunity and arguing in the church - Philippians 4:2
c) There were false teachers seeking to gain a foothold - Phil 3:1-2
d) There were those in need of daily necessities - Phil 4:19
3. Philippians 4:6 "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."
4. Be Careful for nothing - literally " be anxious (have a distracting care) for not even one thing"
5. Fear imprisons while faith liberates. Fear paralyzes but faith empowers. Fear disheartens - faith encourages. Fear weakens; faith empowers. Fear shipwrecks, faith equips. Fear causes hopelessness, while faith rejoices in the power and presence of God.
6. Someone has said, "I would rather walk with God in the dark than go alone in the light."
7. The more we depend on God, the more dependable we find he is. There is no panic in trust.
8. I Peter 5:7 "Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you."
B. Learn to Cope
1. Admit your fears, insecurities, and anxieties.
2. Tell God about them.
3. Talk with others - Philippians 2:2-3 "Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves." (Share your burdens)
C. Keep Things in Perspective
1. Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
2. Remember God is in control.
3. Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
4. SAM SHOEMAKER QUOTED IN CHRISTIANITY TODAY SAID, "THERE ARE, IN EVERY SITUATION, TWO FACTORS: THERE IS WHAT HAPPENS, AND THERE IS HOW WE TAKE WHAT HAPPENS. HOW WE TAKE WHAT HAPPENS GOES BACK TO WHAT KIND OF PERSON WE ARE, AND WHAT KIND OF BELIEF WE HAVE ABOUT LIFE AS A WHOLE. IF THE WHOLE SCHEME OF LIFE IS NOT A SCHEME AT ALL BUT A CHAOS, IF THERE IS NO THREAD OF PURPOSE RUNNING THROUGH IT ALL BUT ONLY CONFUSION, THEN OUR MISFORTUNES ARE JUST PART OF THE GENERAL MESS. BUT IF GOD IS AND IF LIFE IS HIS CREATION, WITH MEANING IN THE MIDDLE OF IT, THEN WE MAY HOPE TO DISCOVER A PATTERN WHICH WILL BOTH GIVE COHERENCE TO IT ALL AND HELP TO INTERPRET ANY ONE EVENT IN THE UNFOLDMENT."
5. Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
6. HE WRITES IN CHARACTERS TOO GRAND
FOR OUR SHORT SIGHT TO UNDERSTAND;
WE CATCH BUT BROKEN STROKES, AND TRY
TO FATHOM ALL THE MYSTERY
OF WITHERED HOPES, OF DEATH, OF LIFE,
THE ENDLESS WAR, THE USELESS STRIFE --
BUT THERE, WITH LARGER, CLEARER SIGHT,
WE SHALL SEE THIS -- HIS WAY WAS RIGHT.
D. Reach out to Others
1. People helping and bearing the burdens of others helps to control and prevent anxiety.
2. Philippians 2:2 "Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind."
3. Philippians 4:9 "Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."
4. KARL MENNINGER, THE [LATE] PSYCHIATRIST, WAS ASKED WHAT SOMEONE SHOULD DO WHO FEELS ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN. HIS ADVICE? "LOCK YOUR HOUSE, GO ACROSS THE RAILROAD TRACKS, FIND SOMEONE IN NEED AND DO SOMETHING FOR HIM."
5. At no other time have we had such an open door of opportunity in our generation to reach out with the peace and love of Jesus Christ to those that are facing these uncertain times.
6. GRANT ME, O LORD, AN UNDERSTANDING HEART, THAT I MAY SEE INTO THE HEARTS OF PEOPLE, AND KNOW THEIR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES, THEIR HOPES AND THEIR DESPAIRS, THEIR EFFORTS AND THEIR FAILURES, THEIR NEED OF LOVE AND THEIR NEED TO LOVE. THROUGH MY TOUCH WITH THEM GRANT COMFORT AND HOPE AND THE ASSURANCE THAT NOW LIFE BEGINS AT ANY AGE AND ON ANY DAY, REDEEMING THE PAST, SANCTIFYING THE PRESENT AND BRIGHTENING THE FUTURE WITH THE ASSURANCE OF THY UNFAILING LOVE AND GRACE BROUGHT TO US IN JESUS CHRIST, THY SON, OUR LORD. (George Appleton in the Oxford Book of Prayer Christianity Today, Vol. 32, no 1)
